Legal Articles, Divorce & Family Law
Court Grants Mother Sole Custody of Her Daughter
In a custody decision, a New York appellate court affirmed a lower court’s decision to grant a mother sole custody of the parties’ child. In this particular case, the parties were divorced in 2001, and for several years thereafter shared joint custody of their daughter. The mother had primary physical custody subject to liberal unsupervised visitation with the father. The mother moved for sole custody, requesting that the father’s visitation be suspended, or alternatively, that it be supervised. The father cross-moved for sole legal and physical custody, claiming that the mother was interfering with his visitation.
Trial Court Declines to Award Alimony in High Asset Divorce Action
In a divorce action in association with an alimony dispute, the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Fairfield at Bridgeport considered the distribution of assets and property in a high-income marital dissolution matter.
Child Support Award of 20% of Father’s Variable Bonus Income Held Abuse of Discretion
In a post-judgment divorce action, the Supreme Court of Connecticut found that the trial court did not properly apply child support deviation criteria when it awarded an open-ended child support award of 20% on a defendant father’s variable bonus. The court deemed this as contradictory to the child support guideline principles and an abuse of discretion by the trial court.
Court Enjoins Defendant From Spending Personal Finances to Secure Future Child Support Payments
In a post-judgment divorce action regarding child support, the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Fairfield at Bridgeport considered whether to grant a plaintiff wife’s motion to enjoin the defendant husband from spending recently-obtained monies. She asked the court to place a portion of the money in escrow as security on child support payments.
Trial Court Invalidates Prenuptial Agreement Where Husband Failed to Disclose Substantial Pension
In a divorce action, the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial Branch of Fairfield at Bridgeport considered a plaintiff husband’s claims that he and his wife signed a valid prenuptial agreement and, as such, any awards by the court inconsistent with the agreement’s terms would be improper.
When Seeking Modification of Visitation with a Child, Parents Need Not Show a Substantial Change in Circumstances
In a post-judgment divorce action, the Appellate Court of Connecticut considered, in part, whether a trial court abused its discretion when it modified a visitation order. The plaintiff argued that the court did not find a substantial change in circumstances or that modification was in the child’s best interests. Furthermore, she claimed the court erred when it did not consider the defendant’s present-day ability to parent the minor child. The judgment was affirmed.
Court Awards Wife Alimony: Her Husband’s Interest in Several Businesses
In an alimony decision rendered in the Superior Court for the Judicial District of Stamford, the Court awarded to a wife her husband’s interest in three separate limited liability companies. The parties were married in 1988, and are the parents of two adult children. The wife was a real estate broker, while, according to the court, the husband was unwilling to seek, obtain or maintain gainful employment. Rather, the husband owned and/or had an interest in several businesses, as well as several properties pursuant to his interests in various limited liability companies.
Court Adjusts Child Support Payment After Minor Children Leave Custodial Parent to Live with Their Mother
While a motion to modify custody is pending, can a court temporarily modify a child support order after the minor children changed their residence from one parent to the other for a significant period of time? In a post-judgment divorce action, the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk at Stamford answered this question affirmatively.
Post Petition Divorce Property Settlement May Not Impact Spouses’ Homestead Exemptions in Bankruptcy Court
In re Gasztold, 11-21287, 2011 WL 5075440 (Bankr. D. Conn. Oct. 25, 2011)
In Light of Husband’s Earning Capacity, Court Approves $6,963 Per Monthly Child Support Award
In a post-judgment divorce action, the Superior Court of Connecticut, Judicial District of Stamford-Norwalk at Stamford considered a plaintiff wife’s motion to modify child support following the parties’ judgment of dissolution. The court found that both parties experienced a substantial change in circumstances warranting modification, and that it was proper to base the child support payments on the defendant husband’s earning capacity from both his employment and investments.